September 26, 2017 – Folktale Winery in Carmel is partnering with Ventana Wines to upgrade nearly 300 acres of vineyards and create an exciting new wine tourism destination expected to breathe new life into the River Road Wine Trail.
Folktale founder and president Gregory Ahn says they are partnering with Ventana owners Randy Pura and Bruce Sterten to completely overhaul the vineyard and historic site. But he is careful to note that they are not outright purchasing Ventana, but instead, working with the owners to revitalize both the vineyard and the facility.
“For now, we have entered into a strategic partnership through which Folktale will be participating in the replanting of the vineyard and helping reimagine the winery facility as a new boutique winemaking facility and hospitality center at the center of Monterey wine country,” Ahn says.
For the short term, this means winemaking operations under the Ventana label will cease until the vineyard comes back on line in three to four years. It also means that Ventana’s tasting room will be closing as of October 2, making Sunday, October 1, the last day for club members to pick up their final wine club shipments in person. You might want to take advantage of the very attractive clearance pricing on the current wine inventory, taking place right now.
First order of business is replanting the vineyard, and Ahn is ardently working on the plan for this 300 acres of hallowed ground. “Ventana is now undergoing a mega replanting effort and we are participating in it. As a long time buyer, we wanted a seat at the table. It’s a great vineyard, planted very long ago, and in need of replanting. We are very excited to be part of this.”
You’ll recall Folktale’s parent company Alcohol by Volume purchased the Le Mistral brand from Ventana some years back, reworking the label and fine-tuning the wine to bring it into their stable.
He explains that they’ll be replanting Ventana with the some of the same varieties that are being ripped out. “We’re putting Riesling and Gewurztraminer back in. We have plenty of Chardonnay and Pinot in our portfolio, so we’re also considering other varietals, like Cab Franc and Gamay. We’re looking at unique things. This is our opportunity to create diversity,” he says.
Ahn also envisions building and operating a state-of-the-art winery and showpiece hospitality center that will be the new home for Ventana and that will serve has a long-needed hub for tourism on the River Road Wine Trail.
Over the past three years Ahn and partner Jonathan White have accomplished a storybook transformation of the former Chateau Julien into Folktale Winery—a hip place designed to make you want to come, hang out and enjoy the wines of Carmel native, David Baird. Ahn says Baird brings “the right level of geekiness to the job.” They’re currently half way through their third harvest together. (Read more about Folktale Winery in the new fall issue of Edible Monterey Bay here.)
Chef Todd Fisher took over the culinary program at the winery earlier this year, and is now managing the food program at Folktale’s 7th & Dolores in Carmel, while chef de cuisine Danny Leach, formerly of Roy’s, is handling the pizza program and turning out delicious small plates at Folktale.
Ventana’s owners are hoping Ahn will be able to repeat the success and popularity of Folktale out on River Road. Ahn cites the lack of lodging and hospitality as an impediment to the growth of this part of the region and hopes the county will be cooperative as they work towards creating the infrastructure needed to make the River Road area the tourist destination it should be.
He notes the efforts by Soledad Mayor Fred Ledesma to increase visitation to The Pinnacles has done much to raise the visibility of the region. Hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Pinnacles could translate into wine dollars.
“It’s Monterey’s time,” says Ahn, who in addition to serving as president at Folktale, sits on the board of the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association. He’s excited about all the energy behind the push to elevate the status of Monterey Chardonnay to the point where it is now garnering the monetary reward its growers have long sought. He says that prices for Monterey Chardonnay grapes are finally rising. It’s been a long time in coming, but the golden age of Monterey may be just around the corner. You can see Jerry McFarland smiling from above.
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
